To feel like looking 'average' these days is bloody hard work?

[JustGiveMeGin]

Disclaimer: I had a similar thread in style and beauty when I wasn't feeling my best. I have definitely made peace with how I look and this is NOT a woe is me thread 🤣
To even look average I have to dye the greys out of my hair, have my eyelashes and eyebrows tinted (did I mention greys?) Remove hair from underarms, legs, bikini area. Spray tan couple of times a week, moisturise after every shower (daily). Wash, conditon and blow dry hair daily. Anti wrinkle face cream twice daily after cleansing. That's just the basics....I can and do go out without makeup bit I feel better with: cc cream, face powder, bronzer, blusher, eyebrow pencil, mascara and lipstick.
To me I feel like I should look like a fucking goddess after all that effort but sadly I still sit in the firmly average camp!
Does anyone get what I mean or have I finally gone off my rocker for good?

Otherwise we have a society straight out of The Handmaids Tale......

Where women are treated like livestock....

Maybe being more accepting of diversity amongst women (and men) is the best way forward.

@grasstreeleaf

I'm slim and toned because it is great for cardiovascular and overall health (health is the goal, slim and toned is a pleasant by product) - I couldn't give a sht about societal beauty standards.

Doesn't matter your particular intentions or reasoning behind it or whether you look that way through absolutely no effort, my point is by outwardly conforming to a particular standard, intentionally or not, you help uphold that standard just because you help normalise your particular physique.

Don't have an issue with normalising a slim and toned physique. That's healthy and natural. Everything that bleach, fillers, makeup, fake tan etc is not.

Nature is pretty cool, we (completely) ignore her at our peril.

For my average look, I walk my hair every other day

I have a vision of you in the park with your hair on a leash walking along looking like Cousin Itt from the Addams family

Washing is hardly a big chore, it's basic cleanliness....

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Dog head

Self respect doesn't require the removal of natural body hair lol. Bet her partner isn't waxing down there lol.

I agree. I do none of those things but I do eat well and exercise and I have plenty self respect .

Don't have an issue with normalising a slim and toned physique. That's healthy and natural. Everything that bleach, fillers, makeup, fake tan etc is not.

Normalising a slim and toned physique isn't a problem to me either as I have one.

However, for those that haven't (and I haven't in the past) might use beauty products and services or fashion as a form of self expression - it is something different involving how they look that they can potentially feel good about. People might not notice their overweight body, just for example, so much if they have beautiful clothes, hair or makeup.

Which is not at bad thing. People don't want to wait to feel good. They still can do all the other things that will bring them to a healthy physical state even if they are starting from a position of ill health.

@gillysSong

Saying that I saw a man with his toddler dd with matching top knots yesterday.
Does anyone actually fancy these blokes.

Howling

I do almost none of what you do. People don't recoil from me when I go out. No one points or talks behind their hand because I fall so far from average...

By participating in this you could argue you further perpetuate the pressure, and if you truly want to change things the biggest contribution would be to stop.

I just cba.